Power vessels



Oct. 17, 1967 s. SZABO POWER VESSELS Filed April 20, 1966 United States Patent O 3,347,201 POWER VESSELS Stephen Szabo, 67 The Bulwark, Castlecrag, New South Wales, Australia Filed Apr. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 543,975 Claims priority, application Australia, May 3, 1965, 58,273/ 65 2 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A boat having a main hull with a covered compartment therein open at its aft end to receive and detachably have attached therein one or more auxiliary crafts. Propulsion means are provided for the craft or crafts in the compartment which may also be used as propulsionmeans for the boat. A hatch is provided on the boat for allowing access to the compartment and the compartment extends below the water line of the boat so that the auxiliary craft may be driven part of the way into said compartment and then mechanically assisted the remainder of the way. The compartment may accommodate one or a plurality of auxiliary craft.

This invention relates to ships or boats and has for one of its objects the elimination of the problems of carrying or towing an auxiliary craft.

Carrying or towing an auxiliary craft is very inconvenient and as separate driving means such as engine, shaft, propeller etc., has to be provided, the auxiliary craft is an irksome and expensive adjunct to a ship or boat.

This invention overcomes these problems by the provision on a ship or boat hull, hereafter called the main hull, at the aft end thereof, a recessed compartment which allows the auxiliary craft to be moved in or out of the main hull in a manner such that when it is in the main hull it may be rigidly attached thereto, and it may be detached and driven oil? as required. The auxiliary craft has driving means affixed thereto, and these means are such as to be suitable for propelling either the auxiliary craft on its own or the main hull with the auxiliary craft rigidly attached in the compartment.

Thus in its broadest form the invention comprises a ship or boat comprising a main hull having one or more open compartments at its aft end, each compartment/s being adapted to have attached therein an auxiliary craft which has propulsion means adapted to drive either each auxiliary craft on its own or the main hull with the auxiliary craft/ s attached.

Preferred forms of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the parent craft partly cut away to show the auxiliary craft in its compartment,

FIGURE 2 is an aft end elevation of the parent and auxiliary craft shown in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is an aft end elevation of a parent craft having twin compartments and auxiliary craft fitted therein.

Thus in one embodiment the invention envisages a motor powered auxiliary craft 4 which can be used for racing, water skiing, fishing, or as a life craft, and a 3,347,201 Patented Oct. 17, 1967 main hull 5 which has a compartment 6 at its aft end 7, open to the water in such a manner that the auxiliary craft 4 may be entered into and attached rigidly to the main hull 5, the driving means 8 on the auxiliary craft 4 then being used to propel the combined main hull and craft. The main hull 5 may have power other than that provided by the auxiliary craft 4.

The compartment 6 may extend above and below the water-line 9 whereby the auxiliary craft 4 may be driven into attaching position entirely under its own power or under its own power for part of the way and then with mechanical assistance (not shown) to its attaching position.

The invention also envisages a plurality of open compartments 6A whereby a plurality of auxiliary craft 4A may be entered and attached as shown in FIGURE 3.

On the main hull 5 provision such as a hatch 10 may be made for access from the deck 11 of the main hull 5 to the recessed compartment 6; also provision (not shown) may be made for coupling the controls on the auxiliary craft 4 to a suitable control .position on the main hull 5.

Thus the invention provides a convenient means of carrying an auxiliary craft 4 on a ship or boat as well as greatly reducing the cost of the propulsion means for the ship or boat and auxiliary craft.

The driving means 8 may be any known power units such as inboard, inboard-outboard, outboard, jet etc.

It is anticipated that the invention is adaptable to enable the same auxiliary craft to fit into different main hulls, or the same main hull accommodates different auxiliary crafts. This would provide a variety in size and shape of main hull and auxiliary craft and a variety of power units in type and size. Thus the invention is adaptable to several commercial or pleasure uses.

What we claim is:

1. A boat comprising a main h'ull having a covered compartment open at its aft end adapted to receive and have detachably attached therein an auxiliary craft, propulsion means mounted on said craft for driving said craft and said main hull when said auxiliary craft is attached in said compartment, said hull having a hatch with a removable cover thereon for access from the deck of the boat to said compartment and each compartment extends below the water-line on the main hull whereby the auxiliary craft may be driven part of the way and then by mechanical assistance for the rest of the way for attachment to the main hull.

2. A boat as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality of auxiliary craft may be fitted into said compartment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 75,645 3/1868 Raymond et al 114-235 2,375,139 5/1945 Schmitt et al 114-235 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,285,359 1/1962 France.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BOAT COMPRISING A MAIN HULL HAVING A COVERED COMPARTMENT OPEN AT ITS AFT END ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND HAVE DETACHABLY ATTACHED THEREIN AN AUXILIARY CRAFT, PROPULSION MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CRAFT FOR DRIVING SAID CRAFT AND SAID MAIN HULL WHEN SAID AUXILIARY CRAFT IS ATTACHED IN SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID HULL HAVING A HATCH WITH A REMOVABLE COVER THEREON FOR ACCESS FROM THE DECK OF THE BOAT TO SAID COMPARTMENT AND EACH COMPARTMENT EXTENDS BELOW THE WATER-LINE ON THE MAIN HULL WHEREBY THE AUXILIARY CRAFT MAY BE DRIVEN PART OF THE WAY AND THEN BY MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE REST OF THE WAY FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE MAIN HULL. 